At the Feet of Jesus BY Malusi Skunyana 

Read Luke 10:38-42

LUKE 10:38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

LUKE 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

LUKE 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

LUKE 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

LUKE 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

It is best for us, more than anything else is, to sit at the feet of Jesus, this is the best and highest position that one may occupy in life. For when we sit at the feet of Jesus, we occupy the position of the beloved children of God. In our daily lives, nothing should substitute our having a personal relationship with Jesus, because after all, our salvation will not be determined by how long we served the Lord or how many great things we did for Him, but it rests wholly on the quality of the relationship we had with Jesus.

In Luke 10, the good doctor records for us a very brief story of Martha and Mary, which at first glance seems to be insignificant, until one really allows the words of Jesus to sink in, “Mary has chosen the better part, which shall not be taken away from her.” The “better part” makes all the difference in this story, and changes it from a simplistic account into a meaningful and rich account. The better part in this story is of course sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha’s intentions we very noble, she wanted to prepare for her guests Jesus and His disciples, and no doubt she outdid herself trying to ensure that only the best should be served her honoured Guest and His company. It seems, as Martha was busy preparing she suddenly remembered that she has a sister who should be helping her prepare for their guests. But where was she, where was Mary?

Apparently, from the time Jesus entered the house and took a seat, Mary had been sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His words. When Martha realizes this she approaches Jesus with a complaint, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” Martha could never have expected Jesus to answer the way He did, for instead of rebuking Mary for her idleness, Jesus praised her for prioritizing sitting at His feet listening to His words. This Martha did not expect, she would learn that Jesus valued one’s relationship with Himself more than He valued a service rendered to Him. Many good and well-meaning Christians today tend to miss the point just like Martha. Whereas it is good and expected of Christians to serve the Lord and minister to other people, but service and ministry should not come before having a personal relationship with Jesus. Service and ministry cannot take the place of a personal relationship with the Saviour, they cannot bring salvation, but a personal relationship with the Lord guarantees salvation.

Dear friend, the better part is to have Jesus living within you, and having you living for Him. The number of years spent in the service of the Master and in ministering to other people will not have any weight in determining our salvation. Whereas both service to the Lord and ministry to our fellow men are expected of every believer, but it is an intimate relationship with Jesus that is prized by heaven more than anything else, and it is that intimate relationship or lack of it that will determine the fate of every living human being. You may have been working for the Lord with all your heart, but if you have not sat at the feet of Jesus, if you did not have a personal relationship with Him, your service may not amount to much. Is it not time you sat at the feet of Jesus? Is it not time you sought to have an intimate relationship with Him? It is my prayer that above everything else you may have Jesus as your personal Saviour, and be found in Him. God bless you! Amen!